Police in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality shut the local Hilton Hotel Monday and arrested 22 people suspected of running a prostitution ring.
Chinese hotel staff see off the last remaining guest as police in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality shut down the local Hilton Hotel. Police in Chongqing municipality shut the local Hilton Hotel and arrested 22 people suspected of running a prostitution ring.
Chongqing police are investigating the owner of the property, Qinglong Property Development Co, and its alleged links to an underworld gang running a prostitution ring at the hotel, China National Radio said.
The hotel was shut down for business on Monday and customers were seen leaving with their luggage, the report said. The hotel’s reception desk confirmed to AFP that the establishment had been closed, but refused to comment on the investigation.
“We are closing down due to unforeseen trouble, we will reopen on July 6,” a receptionist said.
According to the news report, police have interrogated many of the hotel staff, detaining 102 suspects, of which 22 have been formally arrested.
The gang is also suspected of dealing illegal drugs, it added.
The Hilton International Hotel Group manages the business in a joint venture with the property company, the report said.
A US-based spokeswoman said in a statement: “Hilton Worldwide abides by all laws in every country in which its brands operate and is fully cooperating with the investigation.”
Police in Chongqing, a municipality of over 30 million people, have been engaged in a wide-ranging mafia crackdown that resulted in a death penalty being meted out to the city’s former top judicial official in April.
The verdict against Wen Qiang, once also a former deputy police chief, brought to a climax a series of trials that lifted the lid on the seamy underworld in the city.
